View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerColt McCoy has been able to organize his veteran teammates during the NFL lockout in a way that speaks to his growing skills as a leader on the Browns, says Terry Pluto.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's never a lockout in Northeast Ohio when it comes to weekend opinions about local teams.

About the Browns...

1. No one has talked about it, but the four "Camp Colts" could have been a disaster for quarterback Colt McCoy. After all, who is McCoy to try and organize and run practices? He's started eight games, been in the NFL for one season. But the young Browns quarterback pulled it off, and gained even more respect from his teammates. Rather than come across as bossy, he was quietly confident and communicated a lot with the players in between each camp so that they had a sense of working together.

2. Working in McCoy's favor are the ages of the receivers and running backs. Everyone is young. Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi were 2009 second-round picks. Greg Little was a second-rounder this season. Joshua Cribbs is a veteran, but he just wants to do the right thing and win games. He helped set up the camp at Kent State, his alma mater.

3. Also attending some of the camps were Carlton Mitchell and Jordan Norwood, two young receivers liked by General Manager Tom Heckert. Some in the Browns' front office think Mitchell could be a surprise contributor in the new offense because he runs very well after making the catch.

4. Am I thrilled to hear Little had 93 parking tickets on five different cars when he was at North Carolina? Or that some of the cars ticketed included a BMW, Acura and Nissan -- according to the Charlotte Observer? It does not mean Little is a bad guy. It does mean the Browns have to watch his sense of entitlement. He became a second-round pick despite being suspended (for taking gifts from an agent and supplying false information to the NCAA). The Browns need to make sure Little earns his playing time, because a lot has been handed to him in the past.

5. As for the running backs at Camp Colt, Peyton Hills was drafted in 2008, Montario Hardesty was drafted in 2010. Hillis and McCoy also have become close friends. The tight ends are Ben Watson, Evan Moore and rookie Jordan Cameron. This is Watson's eighth season, but like Cribbs, he's a good guy who wants to buy into the program. Cameron has made an impression with his leaping ability and athleticism.

6. While some offensive linemen have shown up for the various camps, not a lot can be done on the field with them. There is no blocking and tackling. Most of the work on offense is running pass patterns from the new West Coast playbook.

7. Seneca Wallace was at some camps, but not this one. The other quarterback was Jarret Brown, who started for West Virginia in 2009. He is known as a runner, but Brown did start 15 games as a senior in mostly a pro-style offense. The Mountaineers were 11-4 in those games, he completed 63 percent of his passes and became the school's first quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards since Marc Bulger in 1998. He backed up Patrick White until 2009.

8. Brown was not drafted in 2010. Part of the reason is he had only 11 TD passes, compared to nine interceptions. He also lost six fumbles. He is 6-3, so he has decent size -- but 20 of his passes were batted down. But the Browns were intrigued enough to sign him on Jan. 11. Brown did open the 2010 season on the 49ers, but was cut. Maybe he is the young quarterback that team president Mike Holmgren says he likes to bring in each season for a tryout.

9. There are more veterans on defense, which is why it was wise for Scott Fujita to be the point man in bringing those guys to camp. Fujita is respected because he's headed into his 10th season, played in a Super Bowl and also has been a key guy in the labor talks. He also received help from Sheldon Brown -- another key veteran. Brown said he had rotator cuff surgery at the end of the season, but is optimistic about his shoulder being healthy this year.

10. This is a big IF, but if Robaire Smith is correct when he says his back injuries are behind him, that could be a major boost to the defensive line. The 33-year-old Smith can play in either the 3-4 or 4-3 offense, and can play end. So the new Browns line would have Smith and rookie Jabaal Sheard at the ends, rookie Phil Taylor and veteran Ahtyba Rubin at the tackles. Marcus Benard can be a pass-rushing end, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Browns signed another veteran defensive linemen.

About the rookie salary cap...

Plain Dealer columnists

1. The best thing about the coming NFL labor settlement is a rookie salary cap. Under the new agreement, No. 1 pick Cam Newton will receive $22 million over four years, with a player option for a fifth season. Last year's top pick -- Sam Bradford -- signed a 6-year, $78 million deal, with $50 million guaranteed.

2. It appears rookie salaries will be cut between 50-75 percent, which is not just good for the owners, but also the league. One of the toughest situations for coaches and veteran players is when a rookie walks into the dressing room as the team's highest-paid player -- before he played a single snap. That was the case on the Browns with Joe Haden (2010), Joe Thomas (2007), Braylon Edwards (2005), Kellen Winslow (2004), Gerard Warren (2001) and Tim Couch (1999). The only reason Courtney Brown didn't make the make the list in 2000 is Couch was paid so much in 1999.

3. The outrageous salaries given to rookies chewed up salary cap room that could have been given to veteran. Thankfully, the players figured that out and didn't turn this issue into a deal breaker.

4. The rookie salaries also made it hard to trade top draft picks. Many teams didn't want to trade picks or veteran players to move way up in the draft -- and into a messy contract situation.

5. This also should cut down on the rookie holdouts, which always are destructive to the team and player.

About Cleveland State basketball...

View full sizeLisa DeJong, The Plain DealerD'Aundray Brown (32) will be asked to take a leadership role on the Cleveland State basketball team for the 2011-12 season.

Since the NBA has shut down and also told its executives not to speak to the media, I will use some Sunday space in the next few weeks to talk about area Division I basketball teams -- starting with Cleveland State.

1. The Vikings were 27-9, went to the NIT and saw Norris Cole picked in the first round of the draft and traded to Miami. Coach Gary Waters said, "No one can replace Norris, but we do have D'Aundray -- people forget that."

2. That's D'Aundray Brown, who had a medical redshirt last season. He started in his first three years for the Vikings. Not big-time scorer, Brown did average 8.6 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior -- when he often played power forward at 6-4. He is expected to start at small forward.

3. Cole was the point guard, and he may be replaced by 5-8 recruit Charlie Lee from Milwaukee, or 6-4 Sebastian Douglas. Waters says Lee reminds him of Earl Boykins, recruited by Waters at Eastern Michigan. He doesn't believe Lee is a Boykins-type scorer, "but he is a real floor general." Douglas was a recruit from Houston in 2010 who sat out last season with a knee injury. Waters considers him a big-time athlete who can play either guard spot or small forward.

5. The Vikings do return starting guards Tre Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery. Does Waters start Lee/Brown at the point and go with three guards again as Montgomery and Harmon also start? And have a 6-4 power forward in Brown? Probably not, because one of his goals is to improve the rebounding. He will have to sort through all the guards.

6. Warren Harding recruit Tre Brown will not enroll because of academic issues. Several players have transferred: Joe Latas (Houston Baptist), Josh McCoy (Missouri-St. Louis) and Anthony Wells (IUPUI). McCoy and Wells wanted more playing time, and Waters said Latas will pursue his seminary degree. The St. Peter-Chanel product already has two degrees from CSU.

7. Latas was the backup center to Aaron Pogue, who returns. That backup role will be filled by Devon Long, a sophomore from Michigan who was listed at 6-7, 265 pounds. "He's lost some weight and could be our best low-post scorer," said Waters.

8. Enrolling at CSU is Justin Jamison, who is 6-10. He played basketball and baseball at Benedictine and Strongsville. He was drafted in the 13th round by the Texas Rangers, but was cut. Waters said Jamison is expected to walk on to the basketball team, and could be in the mix for minutes at center.

9. Cleveland Central Catholic recruit Anton Grady will battle Strongsville's Tim Kamczyc and sophomore Ludovic Ndaye for time at power forward. "I do expect Anton to get some minutes right away this season," said Waters.

10. Besides Lee and Grady, the Vikings have 6-2 guard Ike Nwamu from North Carolina and 6-6 forward Marlin Mason coming in. Waters said Nwamu is a "great athlete." You can find some incredible dunks by Nwamu on YouTube.

About the Tribe...

View full sizeAP photoA .300 hitter with power as a part-time player with Washington, Michael Morse would fit a lot of needs for the Indians if he became available at the trade deadline.

1. A player for the Indians to consider is Michael Morse, who plays some first base and outfield for the Washington Nationals. I first read the suggestion from Paul Cousineau, author of the excellent blog DiaTribe. Morris, 29, played little for Seattle and was traded to Washington in 2009. It was only last season that he hit .289 (.871 OPS) with 15 homers and 41 RBI in 266 at-bats. This season, he's at .306 (.886 OPS) with 15 homers and 49 RBI.

2. Morse is attractive because he makes only $1 million and won't be a free agent until 2014. The price could be high for Morse in terms of prospects, but I'd be willing to talk about most guys in the system -- but not the prized group of Jason Kipnis, Drew Pomeranz, Lonnie Chisenhall and Alex White.

3. Morse is a right-handed hitter who makes more sense than 33-year-old Ryan Ludwick, who could leave at the end of the season. He's not a prime defender at any position, but he can play the corner outfield spots, first and third base.

4. Ludwick went into the weekend batting .243 (.689 OPS) with 11 homers and 55 RBI for San Diego. In July, he was 6-of-43 (.140) with one homer. In June, he batted .240. While San Diego is a tough place to hit, Ludwick has been so-so at home (.234, .695 OPS, 5 HR) and away (.251, .684 OPS, 6 HR). He will be a free agent after the season.

5. Jeff Francoeur is batting .264 (.747 OPS) with 12 homers and 56 RBI for Kansas City. He has 15 stolen bases, plays a superb right field and is only 27. He also would make sense for the Indians. Francoeur has a player option of $4 million for 2012. If the Indians are pushed to give up a starting pitcher such as Jeanmar Gomez or Zach McAllister in a prospect package for one of these players, I prefer Morse because he can't walk away at the end of the season.

6. Josh Willingham also has been mentioned, and he's hitting .249 (.763) with 12 homers and 46 RBI for Oakland. He's averaged 20 homers and 65 RBI over the previous five years with Washington and Florida. He also can be a free agent.

7. The Tribe says it doesn't have to deal for a right-handed hitter as most the teams they will face the rest of this season have only one lefty in rotation -- but let's face it, they need a right-handed bat for next year, too.

8. David Huff may be a starter in one of Monday's doubleheader games. He is 8-3 with a 3.86 ERA at Columbus. That is his lowest ERA in three years at Class AAA. The lefty could be used in a deal, especially that his average fastball has moved up from 89 to 92 mph.

9. Finally healthy and feeling confident after head and knee injuries this spring, Jason Donald is hitting .318 (.876 OPS) in Columbus. In his last 10 games, Donald is batting .375, and is at .350 vs. lefties this season. He could join the Indians in the near future, replacing Luis Valbuena as the utility infielder.

10. The Know the Score Summer Sports Luncheon hosted by Les Levine and featuring PD writers Paul Hoynes, Tony Grossi and myself will be held Thursday at 11:45 a.m. at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. Call 440-449-0700 for more information.

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